Loving-Kindness

Loving-Kindness

My Kaplan course called Creating Wellness has assigned us to complete a contemplative practice that focuses on loving kindness.  This contemplative practice is also known as a mental workout or a training of the mind.  This mental workout requires persistance and daily commitment because the goal is two fold to create a habit and devolp higher consciousness.  I don't know about you, but I need a healthy habit that will lead to more self awareness and higher consciouness especially if it has to do with loving-kindness. 

The loving-kindness practice asked me to assume the pain of a person that I knew was in pain in my inhale and with my exhale I was to release it.  I loved this portion of the practice.  I chose a love one who was experiencing a great deal of pain physically, mentally and emotionally and with my exhale I released it for them.  This is loving-kindness in its truest form, the ability to take on someones pain and suffering because you hate to see their pain, made me realize the depth of my love for this person and how much I wanted healing for him. 

Loving-kindness first starts with expressing it toward yourself and then you can give it to others.  It is looking past the actions of others and realizing that their transgression has absolutely nothing to do with you but with an internal struggle they may be dealing with.  It is meeting people where they are and not expecting anymore or less.  Lastly, loving-kindness is a daily work in progress waiting to be cultivated in our daily practice.

Namaste,
Natalie

Self Check 1...2...3!

Self Check.....1...2...3! 

It is really important to me to self-reflect and take inventory of my physical, spiritual and psychological well-being. Self- reflection is a key component to optimal well-being so here is how I rate myself in each area.  

My physical well-being on a scale of 1-10 is a 6.  I don’t have debilitating illnesses, but I have little aches and pains that become annoying because they remind me that I want to age gracefully and not painfully.  My upper and lower back hurts, along with pain in my right arm from overuse and long hours on my laptop. Most of these issues can be relieved by a daily exercise routine, and what I currently lack is consistency.  Also I have digestive issues that are usually the highlight of discussion at parties and get together’s.  My gut does not process milk and wheat and I have chosen not to eat meat and that always gets the usual and annoying questions that start with, “How do you get your protein”, “What do you eat, like just salads” and on, and on, and on.  It gets so old! As a vegetarian who chooses not to eat meat, wheat and dairy I know I am different but I have come to the realization that I have to do what is right for me.  I do what I have to do to feel happy and at ease.  It took me a long time to learn the importance of this, and it has become a priority.  

Spiritually, I know what needs to be done to increase and maintain my spirituality, but for some reason I allow myself to fall short because of a lack of consistency and a schedule.  I allow myself to fall prey to the ebb and flow of life.  Instead of being swayed by what is going on in my life, my spiritual practice needs to be immune to life’s up and down’s because it is what keeps me rooted and grounded when situations make me vulnerable. My current spirituality rating is a 4 and this number makes me sad that I have fallen off the wagon, but I know how to get back on and I know it works wonders.

Psychologically, my rating is at a 2.  I have been sad, dwelling in the midst of constant mental chatter that includes long to do list, kids fighting in the background, a black lab that just won’t stop shedding her coat all over my house and balancing motherhood, housework, schoolwork and whatever else is going on.  I gave myself a two because I am not working out as often as I should, my diet consist of sugar and more sugar and my spiritual practice has fallen by the wayside.  Thus resulting in anxiety, depression and a pseudo happy face that my little girls can see right through.

 

I need a life changing revamp that will positively affect my children and my husband.  I realize that I am the epicenter of my family’s energy and I have a huge influence on the mood of the family, but wow, no pressure!  Sometimes just thinking about it makes me more stressed. 

So what can I do to make some life changing modifications? First I realize that I am not the only female dealing with issues like this so, hence the name of the blog my journey our healing.  My journey is finding the best me possible physically, spiritually and psychologically.  Physically, I need exercise like I need air to feel, well, normal and happy.  I just need to do it even if it is low intensity, like walking the dog or mopping the floor.

Spiritually I need to pray, meditate, do yoga, and write my thought down consistently despite the inevitable ups and downs of life.  Psychologically, once I gain consistency in exercise, a spiritual practice and eat more whole foods I will feel better mentally.  And that is what I want, I don’t want to feel the way I have been feeling and really there is no reason for it, especially when I know what to do to feel better.  

My Creating Wellness course through Kaplan required me to complete a relaxation exercise and it was a great start to increasing my optimal well-being.  I realized how sporadic my breathing was and I felt short of breath at first.  (FYI, when you’re breathing is off, so is you’re mental state. Good to know, right?) At the end of the exercise I felt balanced, more relaxed and centered. I plan to make this a nightly ritual.

Namaste,

Natalie